Turntable crane for electrolytic refineries



G. E. MOORE Filed June 30, 1924 TURNTABLE CRANE FOR ELECTROLYTICREFINERIES .fuHlIN QIIIIIU n.. /ll IIN Jan. l, 1929.

INVENTOR ATToRNE Geo Jan. l, 1929.

G. E. MOORE TURNTABLE CRANE FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINERIES Filed June 30,1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllll l IP,

lNvENToR 6&0!" ft/700w@ v El 6l/ZUM ./V.

ATTORNEY e sheets-Smet s G. E. MOQRE TURNTABLE CRANE FOR ELECTROLYTICREFINERIES Filed June 3o. 1924 l Jan. l, 1929.

INVENTOR re ff/Voor@ B c/ l ATTORNEY (5&0 @we Jam, 1'929.

G. E. MOORE TURNTABLE CRANE FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINERIES Filed June 5o.1924 6 Sheets-$heet 4 mvENToR Gea/059916.77001@ ATTORNEY Jam l, 1929.1,697,538

G. E. MOORE TURNTABLE CRANE FoR ELEcT'RoLYTIc REEINERIES Filed June 30.1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Alm Jan. l, 1929. 1,697,538

v G. E. MOORE TURNTABLE CRANE FOR ELECTROLYTIG REFINERIES Filed June so,1924 6 sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR 'eor' /Voore ATTORNEY Patented Jan. l,1929.

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GEORGE EDWARD MOORE, OF MUSKEGQN, MICHGAN, ASSGNOAR, BY MSNE ASSGN-IVENTS, TO SHAW CRANE-PUTNAYI- MACHINE CO. NC., 0F

A CORPORATION OF DELAVABE.

IVUSKEGON, MICHIGAQT,

'manifests @Rens Fee @werner-rifle i i Application filed 5211.16 39,

This invention relates to a turn-table trolley designed to be used inconnection with traveling cranes and having particular utility when saidcranes are use-d in electrolyl-tic refining plants. In plants of thischaracter batches .o'f anodes or 4cathodes carried `on racks have to behandled between electrolytic rack cars and arranged longitudinallyinside the building, where the electrolytic plant is housed.` The trackson which these rack cars run vare transverse ,of the tank house, whereasthe tanks in which the anodes or cathodes are placed or arrangedlongitudinally of the building, and it is thereiiore necessary when aracl; .carrying anodes or cathodes Vis transl'erred from the tanks toAtliecars to turn them a qua-rter turn. lt has been practice heretoforeto have turn-tables on the floor where the cars can be given a quarter'tirrn before the reT mova-l .oi the racls'by cranes for transportationto the tanks.

The present invention eliminates the use of the floor turn-table for thecars by importing a turn-table into the trolley construction. At thesame time by this addition ot vturntable construction to the trolley,the problem of head room to take care of the mechanism is encountered 5and a feature of the present invention resides in the. design andconstruction oi' the trolley whereby it may 'be eemipped with thenecessary turn-,table and the vdimensions kep-t within the limits of'space permitted in the buildings in whichitis to b e installed, whereinsnc-h space for head room is limited. This minimizing of sizes has afurther distinct advantage in that construction costs are materiallyloweredJ since compactness necessarily involves a. 'conservation ofmaterials used 'and lessening of machine work required in working thematerials into thev finished machine.

The general object ,of the invention is Ato, produce ,an improved c ranestructure wvl-rich compact, light'and strong with a conservation of thematerials used in its manufacture and occupying a minimum of head room.further object of the invention is to produce an improved turntableconstruction for crane trolleys with hoisting mechanism thereon which iscapable of especially near approach to the sides of the building inwhich it is installed so'that it is possible to lift loads vertilS-.Serial-N0- 723,163.

@ally from points .close lo thesad .Sides 0i' the building and one whichis especially adapted for installation in buildingsf7 such 21selectnolytic refineries already built. A s lurther object off theinvention is to p rovic e in :a trolley for turntable cra-nes, animproved arrangement oif the turning and hoisting mech'- anisni which isparticularly'compact, light, Strong and durable and ellcent inOperation. Further objects of the invention are lto provide hoistingmechanism f or'cranes of 'this Character with an improved transmissiongear and hoisting drinn construction whereby anions' .other advantages,beading tQrSiQna'l stresses are reduced and conipactness and llslltnsare Obtained., together with i111- proved assembly and association ofthe `oper.- atills and driving elements `SO that assembly 0r disassemblyfor .repair ,Or replacement 0l Pells are facilitated; l@ Prende anmplfvd construction for the mauntins @if electric sairl'ent-.Carrynrings 01' the electric meters ,and one especial y adapted' forturn-table Crpes; and l0 provide in .a turntable Crans, 'i111- irevedStructural arrangements and Cambiadfion @l parte ler Supporting-d1@timing Parts of :the @10.111.651 .and .the Same time .facilitating theaccomplislililent 0l ille hoisting' enelations of the mechanisni.

Various other Objects ,dnd purposes 'than' sov ' 3 is n n-end nelevation,of the structure Shawn in Fis s2.. l

Fig. 4 is aplanrof the npper rotating meinber of A.the turn-table, ille,winding drum and mechanism for driving thesazne .and the ins used forrotating ,the lured-able member oilthe trolley being .shown horizontal,Section.

Fig. is a central vertical section taken substantially on t-he plane ofline 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a like section substantially at right angles thereto on theplane of line 6-6 of Fig. 4, and also on the plane of line 6-6 of Fig.2.

Fig. 7 is a sec-tion through the lower part of the apparatus, it being alower continuation of that shown in Fig. 5, the section being on thesame plane therewith, and

Fig. 8 is a like view of the lower lpart of the mechanism on the sameplane as the section shown in Fig. 6, or at right angles'to the plane ofthe section shown in Fig. 7.

Like reference characters refer to like parts iu the different figuresof the drawings.

`The bridge members 10 of the crane are of conventional construction anddesign,rcarry ing parallel track rails 11 at their upper sides.

kAt the ends of the bridge members, rollers 12 are rotatably mounted toride on tracks 13 supported at the upper side of built-up I- beamgirders 14 mounted at opposite sides of the building in which the craneis to be installed on suitable brackets or supports shown at 15, thisbeing conventional con- Y struction for the mounting of crane bridgecssv Vits lower side for strength.

members to travel lengthwise of a building. The shafts of the rollers 12of one of* the bridge members carry gears 16 which lare simultaneouslydriven by suitable gearing connections with a shaft 17, as shown in Fig.1, which may be driven from an electric motor through the interposedgearing connections The trolley comprises upper and lower members, theupper member being mounted to turn about a vertical axis with respect tothe lower member. er member comprises two spaced apart longitudinalmembers or beams 18 of I-beam cross sectionwhich are connectedv togetherby transverse member or bea-m 19 which is ribbed on Suitable sockets aremadein the webs of the members 18 to receive bosses at the ends of thebeam 19 and vertical pins 20 passl downwardly through' alined holes insaid members 18 and the bosses on the transverse beam 19, this making avery strong construction and one which is simple andeconomi'cal toproduce, all machine work for the connection of the members being donein the factory.

lIt will be noted that the centers of the bosses when in place arecoincident with the lonoitudinal center lines of the members 18 wherebyreactions from the loaded transverse beam 19 are central on said members18 vwithout any tipping tendency.

The ends of the members or beams 18 are hollowed out leaving recessescovered by the parts 21 wherein the truck rollers 22 may be rotatablymounted on shafts 23 so as to run on the rails 11. A. supporting bracket24 is In construction the lowgv securely attached to the transverse beam19 at one side serving as support for an electric motor 25 on the shaftof which is gear 26 meshing with and driving a larger gear 27 secured toshaft 28. The shaft 28 is mounted in suitable bearings carried by thebeams 18 and by the bracket 24 and adjacent each end carries a gear 29which meshes with and drives the gear 3() lined on shaft 23. It isevident that the two shafts 23 at one end of the trolley are driven inunison and when the motor 25 is running the trolley may be moved )ackand forth to different positions on the bridge.

The trzinsverse beam 19 midway between its ends is formed with anenlarged cylindrical. bore 31 suitably flanged at its ends for strengththrough which a large sleeve 32 passes. trolley member and is formedwith an annular flange 33 which rests upon roller bearings in turnbearing against a gear ring 35 located around and directly above thebore 31 and bearing against a plate in turn bearing on the lower memberof the trolley. At the upper end of the sleeve 32 a circular platform 36is mounted and permanently secured, its central portion resting on theflange 33l as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. A horizontal web 38 extendsinwardly from the upper end of sleeve 32 for a short-distance dependingfrom the inner edges of which is a vertical cylinder 37, the saineextending downwardly through the sleeve 32 at al distance below thelower end thereof. Radial ribs 38Ll integrally connect the sleeve 32 andcylinder'37, the ribs extending downwardly below the lower end of sleeve32 to add to the; rigidity of said cylinder 37. In the web 38, as shownin Fig. 4, oppositely positioned openings 39 are cut, the purpose ofwhich will later appear. At the lower end of the cylinder 37 and onopposite sides thereof, laterally projecting enlargements 40 havin@spaced apart sides are cast integral with the cylinder and at the upperends thereof, openings 41 are made for the passage of hoisting cables aswill later appear.

Mounted on the upper sides of the platform 34 is a housing 42 equippedwith suitable bearings for mounting two shafts 43 and 44 in parallelrelation to each other. An electric motor 45 through gears 46 is adaptedto drive the shaft 43, and shaft 43 through' gears 47 in turn drivestheshaft 44 on which a beveled gear 48 is secured meshing with anddriving a larger beveled gear 49 fiXed to an upper end of a verticalshaft 50 which passesy downwardly through an elongated and enlargedcylindricaly mounting 51 therefor the lower end of the shaft being`equipped with a pinion 52 which engages with the teeth of the ring gearh retofore described. lVhen the motor'45 is operated shaft 50 is drivenat a reduced speed.. Pinion 52 engag- This sleeve extends above thelower v1ro = 53 substantially thefull length thereof.

ing with the ring gear 35, said ring gear being relatively stationarythrou'h frictional resistance to turning the platrorin 36 and mechanismmounted on and carried thereby turns about a vertical axis, as isobvious.

A hoisting rain 53 in the forni of an elongated vert-ical cylinder isslidabl'y mounted and extends through the cylinder 37. Kevways 5Ll 'aremade in opposite sides of the ram Ar the lower end of the cylinder 37two oppositeiy disposed keys 55 are secured set-ting' in the keyways andmaintaining the rain and the upper turn-table portion of the trolley inthe same angular relation to each other, but permitting the ram to bemoved up and dov-.1n vertically.

A housing 56 is mounted on and above the platform 36 being equipped withsuitable bearings for the mountingT of a drum shaft 57. On the shaft -57'an enlarged central core 58 is secured from which ribs project to theouter ends of which the winding drum 59 is connected, the core, ribs anddrum being formed as an integral casting. rllwo counter shafts 60 andy6l are mounted parallel to the shaft 57 in bearings carried by thehousing 56 and are spaced from each other and from said shaft 57.Suitable reduction gears and pinions 62 mounted on the shafts 57, 60 and6l and driven by a gear 63 on the shaft of motor 64, serve to drive thedrum 59 at a reduced speed. The motor being reversible, the drum may bedriven in either direction. lt will be noted that the drum gear 6:2 isfixed to the projecting end of the enlarged central core 58" and thatintermediate gears are fixed to projecting portions or bosses on thepinions in the reduction gearing described whereby torsional strainssuch as are due to frictional resistance are entirely eliminated.Accordingly the diameter of the shaft 57is determined by bearingpressure alone and kept to a minimum size. Also the diameter of thepinions can be reduced to a minimum, and a maximum gear reduction can beobtained with Va minimum diameter of gears andthe whole gear train bemade-'as small and compact as possible. Moreover the gears being keyedto projections on the pinions or drums on a larger diameter than wouldbe the case if both were keyed separately to a shaft. it Vfollows thatstrains on the keys are greatly minimized and the keys will not easilywork loose. The whole of the `gearing is enclosed in one cast ironcasing, only the motor and the drum being uncovered. ln

connection with the motor l5 any suitableV form of magnetic brakemechanism, indicated at dotted lines at 45 in Ll, may

be used and, similarly, magnetic brakes may 4be used in lconnection withthe mechaN nism operated by the motor 6a in stopping and holding theAmechanism in any position` to 'which it maybe moved.

the ends of the cables are secured to thed-rum. The `cable extendsldownwardly through one of the openings 39 heretofore described to kandaround a suitably grooved pulley or sheave 66 which is rotatably`mounted'on a shaft 67 carried 0n bosses cast integral with oppositesides of the ram 53 near the .lower end thereof. rlhe pulley is locatedbetween two vertical cross reinforcing plates 66'C1 cast integral withthe ram, as shown in Fig. 6', and the ram is slotted at opposite sidesto afford space for 'the size of the pulley or sheave re quired, thehoisting cable 65 passing downwardly on the outside of the cylinder 37and through the openings il previously described in order to pass aroundthe sheave. A guard 69 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 covers the lower portionof the sheave 66 and maintains the cable in engagement with the sheave66 and the laterally projecting portions 40 make room for the sheave 66as shown when the ram is in upper position.

From the sheave 66 the cable 'passes upwardly and around an upper sheave70 mounted on a short shaft 7l which `passes through the upper end ofthe sleeve 32 and adjacent portion of the platform 36 las shown in Fig.5. lt then passes downwardly `to and under the sheave 66, thenceupwardly to theopposite side of the drum. Rotation of the drum in onedirection serves to elevate the ram 53. In the opposite direction theram is lowered and it may be lowered until the project-ing ends of across pin 7 2 loc-ated in the upper end of the ram, as shown in Fig. 6,comes against the upper ends of the keys 55. The pin 72 'is mounted andsuitably supported by the spider 7 3 at the upper end of the drum 53 andits ends extend into the keyways 54 as best shown in Fig.` 6.

In the lower end of the ram,.:a cross bar 7sl is castintegral with theram and located between. the reinforcing plates 66u. An lbolt 75 mountedon this bar (see Figs. 7 and 8). The lower end of the ram 53 isalsoformed with integral oppositely projecting head parts '7 6 parallelingthe sides of which are channel bars 77, one located at each side of thelower end of the ram in parallel rela tion to each other. VThese bars 77are Connected by cross members '78 in turn secured to the head 76. 'lworods 79 are located parallel to the channel bars 77 between the same andthev lower end of the ramv and carrie-d by cross members 76. The framestructure provided by the 'side bars 77 andthe cross bars 78 ispreferably covered by a steel plate 80. From the rods 79 supportingstraps 8l depend inwardly toward each other to serve as a support forthe rack v62 formed with a plurality of hook members 83 on which theanodes or cathodes which-are to ion vhoisting ram mounted for up anddown movement with respect to the trolley is also mounted so t-hat itmust turn with the upper turntable member of the trolley. Accordinglythe rack carrying the anodes or cathodes may be turned about a verticalaxis to any desired position and the saine handled readily betweenelectrolyt-ic tanks and rack cars despite the longitudinal location otthe tanks and transverse location of the tracks in the electrolyticrefinery building. Moreover the construction is such that a very closeapproach to t-he sides of the building may be had as where the tanks arelocated substantially directly against the sides ot the building. rlhedesign and arrangement of the parts is such that the head room of thetrolley carrying all of the mechanism for running the trolley back andiorth., rotating thel upper member of the trolley and raising orlowering the ram, is kept within the smallest possible limits and at thesa ne time strength necessary for the service to which the crane will beput is maintained and the weight and size of the materials usedconserved with a very material saving in manufacturing costs. All ofwhich is very necessary from a practical standpoint in meeting thecompetition of others in the same business.

It will be noted, referring to Fig. G, that the diameter ot' the member5l in which shalt 50 is mounted is substantially the same or slightlylarger than the diameter of the gear 52, whereby shaft 50 with theattached parts and they member 5l may be removed as a unit. The v1inggear 35 bears directly on a. hardcned steel plate as shown in 6 but isnot otherwise attached and so long as the weight pressing this ring gearagainst the plate holds the gear stationary, the turntable part ol' thetrolley may be rotated 5 but if an undue obstruction should be met, asiii' the head construction at the lower end of the ram should strikeagainst a supporting column in a building, the ring gear would then moveand prevent breakage, which might otherwise occur.` The construction atthe lower end of the ram consisting of the reinforcing cross plates GGais for the purpose ot strengthening and reinforcing the lower end of theram against undue strains such as might occur if one side only of therack should be loaded with anode-s or cathodes and to compensate in partfor the material cut away where the lower end ot the ram is slotted forsheave 66.

Around the cylinder 37 and below 'the lower end of the sleeve 32 arepositioned a plurality of vertical blocks 84 ot impregnated wood whichare bolted or otherwise secured to the cylinder and grooved to provide aplurality el: projecting tongues 'to which rings 86 ot metal aresecured. These rings contact with suitable brushes 87 carried on a ver.tical bar 8S in turn attache-d to a second bar S9 which is secured atits upper end to and depends from the transverse beam 19 of the lowertrolley member. It is evident that the electrical contact of the brushes87 against the rings 86 is maintained at all times irrespective of therotatable movement of the turn-table member oi the trolley. Tie rings 86are electrically connected with the hoisting mechanism and trolley andbridge motors and the brushes with the respective controllers and theline. The horizontal grooves formed in the wood blocks Se are tor thepurpose o't increasing insulating surface on account et the relativelyclose spacingof the rings which is required due toY space limitations. Y

' lt will be evident from .the foregoing that a practical and operativeconstruction of turn-table cranes especially adapted for use inelectrolytic refineries has been produced and one wiich completelyserves all of the objects and purposes for which it is designed, asexplained in the initial statement of the invention. lMlany changes indetails of con struction maybe resorted to without departing from theinvention and it is to be considered that all forms oiE structure whichcome within the scope. ot' the appended claims defining the invent-ionare comprehended byV said invention.

I claim:

l. In a crane, a travelling trolley for said crane, a tubular columnsupported by said trolley, a lift-ing ram guided for rotary and bodilymovement by said column, and a hoisting sheavc mounted on said ram, saidcolumn being In'ovided with oli-set pockets to receive said sheave whenthe ram is in elevated position.

2. ln a crane, a travelling trolley tor the crane having tubular boretherein, a tubular column supported by said trolley and including innerand outer tubular members, webs joining said tubular members andextending below the outer tubular member to provide external ribs forreinforcing said inner tubu lar member, said outer tubular memberextending into saidbore and being Arotatably supported therein, and alifting ram guided for rotary and bodily longitudinal more. ment by saidcolumn. y

3. A trolley for overhead cranes including, longitudinal side tramemembers comprising Castinos of substantially I-section and having the wes thereof offset to provide pockets, a transverse beam comprising acasting provided with bosses adapted to be received in said pockets, andsecuring means extending through said bosses for securing saidtransverse beam in position upon said longitudinal side frame members.v

l. In a crane, a traveling trolley, a hoisting ram guided for verticalmovement by said trolley, a transverse head at vthe lower extremity ofsaid ram, a load supporting frame adapted to be connected to said head,parallel shafts carried by said frame, and supporting means carried bysaid shaft for attachment of loads thereto.

5. In a crane, a combination, a traveling trolley, a hoisting ram guidedfor vertical movement by said trolley and having opposed slots in thelower extremity thereof, reinforcing walls extending between said slotsand a hoisting` sheave disposed between and mounted on said walls andextending` through said slots.

6. In a crane, a traveling trolley, a hoisting ram guided for verticalmovement by said trolley and having opposed slots in the lower extremitythereof, reinforcing walls extending between said slots, a hoistingsheave disposed between and mountedl on said walls and extending intosaid slots, a flexible hoisting member on said sheave, and a box-likeguard for said sheave disposed within said walls and adapted to supportsaid flexible member in position on said sheave.

.7. In a crane, a trolley, hoisting mechanism carried by said trolley, ahoisting ram mounted on said trolley, a hoisting sheave 'arried bysaidram, a flexible hoisting member issuing from said hoisting mechanismextending between said ram and trolley and being reeved over saidhoisting sheave, and an equalizing sheave disposed between said ram andtrolley over which said flexible member is reeved.

8. In a. crane trolley, a tubular column mounted in said trolley andhaving inner and outer tubular members, hoisting mechanism carried bysaid trolley, a hoisting ram mounted on said trolley, a hoisting sheavecarried by said ram, and a flexible hoisting member issuing from saidhoisting mechanism extending between said tubular members and beingreeved over said hoisting sheave.

9. In a crane in combination, a trolley, a tubular column mounted insaid trolley and having inner and outer tubular members, hoistingmechanism carried by said trolley, a hoisting ram mounted on saidtrolley, a hoisting sheave carried by said ram, a ilexible hoistingmember issuing from said hoisting mechanism extending between saidtubular members and being reeved over said hoisting sheave and anequalizing sheave disposedbetween said tubular members over which saidflexible hoisting member passes.

l0. In a crane, a trolley, a tubular column mounted in said trolley andhaving inner and outer tubular members, hoisting mechanism carried bysaid trolley, a hoisting ram mounted on said trolley, a hoisting sheavecarried by said rain, a flexible hoisting member issuing from saidhoisting mechanism extending between said tubular members and beingreeved over said hoisting sheave, said inner tubular member extendingbeyond the outer tubular member and telescopically receiving the ram andguiding it in up and down movements.

ll. In a crane, a trolley, a tubular column mounted in said trolley andhaving inner and outer tubular members, hoisting mechanism carried bysaid trolley, a hoisting ram mounted on said trolley, a hoisting sheavecarried by said ram, a flexible hoisting member issuing from saidhoisting mechanism extending between said tubular members and beingreeved over said hoisting sheave, said inner tubular member extendingbeyond the out-er tubular member and telescopically receiving the ramand guiding it in an up and down movement, and an equalizing sheavedisposed between said inner and outer tubular members and receiving saidflexible hoisting member.

l2. In a crane, a lifting ram including atubular member slotted adjacentone extremity for receiving a hoisting sheave, transverse walls adjacentsaid slotsV and spaced from the walls of said tubular member and .bosseslying between adjacent walls and providing supports for said sheave.

13. In a. crane, a lifting ram including a tubular member slottedadjacent one extremity for receiving a hoistingsheave, transverse wallsadjacent saidslots and spaced from the walls of said tubular member,bosses lying between adjacent walls and providing supports for thevsheave, and a gua-rd member lying between said transverse walls and'enclosing said'sheave.

let. In a crane, a trolley, a rotary tubular member support-ed by thetrolley, a hoisting ram telescopically guided by said tubular member forrelative longitudinal movement, but restrained against relative rotarymovement, a hoisting sheave mounted adjacent the lower end of said ramin slots provided therein and a guard plate disposed in said slots andenclosing said sheave'.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE EDl/VARD MOORE.

